Be in it to win it
It’s the great Australian dream to own a home but with rising interest rates and the price of houses skyrocketing, it’s a dream that is fast becoming unattainable for young couples and families. But all hope is not lost.
With a little faith in the world of gambling, a few bucks and a lot of luck, it is possible to bring the Aussie dream back to life … at least for a small percentage of Australians. And it’s all through the various charity prize homes on offer.
Marketing manager for RSL Art Union Prize Homes, Suzy Raymer, said the RSL lottery, which has been around more than 50 years, was one possible way of entering the housing market since rising interest rates and housing affordability was such a big issue.
“It’s $5 per ticket (for the chance) to get into the property market or create a property portfolio,” she said.
She said the majority of ticket buyers were retirees or young investors.
And it’s a smart way of investing since the homes are chosen in areas with the potential to grow.
“They are in prestigious areas so it’s hard for the public to afford land or a house in that area,” Ms Raymer said.
“We’ve had an 87% increase in the last five years on the Sunshine Coast. The Sunshine Coast is a very popular area, so we’ll probably look to do more that way.”
Not surprisingly, the Sunshine Coast is home to a large number of prize homes, from a range of different lotteries including the Surf Life Saving Foundation and BoysTown.
Ms Raymer said about one quarter of the RSL art union homes were located on the Coast.
But while records show no Sunshine Coast resident had ever won a home, she said she hoped that situation would change soon.
It’s not all bad luck for local residents, though.
Ian Maccoll, of Surf Life Saving Queensland, said that last year a Nambour man had won first prize in the Surf Life Saving lottery.
He said residents of the Coast were very strong supporters of the lottery and provided a solid following for the organisation.
Mr Maccoll also acknowledged that the current housing crisis made it very hard for a lot of people to buy their own home.
“It’s a chance of a lifetime … the great Aussie dream is probably out the window,” he said.
As well as being a lucrative way of fundraising, Mr Maccoll said the homes provided an alternative way into the housing market.
“The odds certainly aren’t in the millions,” Mr Maccoll said.
However in reality, a lot of winners don’t even move into their new house.
“Few people actually move into the homes … about 10%,” Ms Raymer said.
She said about 70% rented the houses out and about 20% sold them.
“A lot of the winners don’t move since they have families and are often already settled into their homes,” she said.
So like the age-old saying goes, you have to be in it to win it.
Posted by sklinky 
Posted by sklinky 
Posted by sklinky 
sklinky